Subject: News I, 29/07/93 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa)
To: macedonia@husc.harvard.edu (macedonia list.)
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 93 10:40:24 EDT

  bulletin, 29/07/1993 ( )  
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        ANA.
        Paris 29/7/93(ANA)--Greece is ''Europe's bridgehead in the
Balkans, Asia Minor and North Africa'' and does not lack for
economic opportunities, a French magazine has reported.
        An analysis by Emmanuel Lechpre, published in the weekly
economic magazine ''La Vie Francaise'', notes looming new prospects
for Greece in the Balkans and that Greek businessmen are already
among the biggest investors in such countries as Bulgaria, Romania
and Serbia.
        New joint businesses are being established continously in
tandem with continously increasing exports to Balkan nations, the
report said, noting that a ''drachma zone'' was being created in
the region.
        However, the report added that Greece does not possess the
means to build the Balkans alone and stressed the need to attract
foreign capital. ana

        Nicosia 29/7/93(ANA/CNA)--Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides
and Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis have asked Joe Clark, the
UN secretary general's special envoy, to relay to the UN chief the
Greek Cypriot side's wish for the Appointment of a European
Community observer at Cyprus peace talks, Cyprus government
spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides told the RIK network yesterday.
        In statements to a Cyprus radio station, the spokesman said
the status of ths observer would be similar to that of the US State
Department special coordinator for Cyprus John Maresca, who was
appointed for the same purpose by the US government.
        Asked whether the Turkish side accepted the appointment of
a European Community observer, Mr Cassoulides said this was not a
matter to concern for the parties but one to be decided by the
secretary general.
        The spokesman said that if until September the Turkish side
continued to show the same negative attitude, then for the Greek
Cypriot side, all the deadlines provided to Turkey expired and the
Security Council should proceed with a resolution and point a
finger at the side responsible for the lack of progress. ana

        Melbourne 29/7/93(ANA)--The Melbourne-based Australian
Committee for the Support of Northern Epirote Greeks has
congratulated  Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis on his stance
on the North Epirus problem.
        The letter expresses the gratitude of Australian Greeks for
the clear and staunch manner the Greek government spoke of the
restoration and safeguarding of the rights of Northern Epirotes in
Albania, particularly during the premier's press conference on July
14.
        ''Greeks living in the southern hemisphere have always been
particularly sensitive to the oppression imposed on our
fellow-countrymen living in Albania, and feel bitter at the
inability of previous governments to support this unfortunate part
of overseas Greeks''. ana

        Athens, 29/7/93(ANA)--Three hundred and sixty development
investment programmes were approved in the first half of this year,
significantly more than the number approved in the same period last
year, the national economy ministry said yesterday.
        According to national economy Investment and Development
Secretary General George Vlachos, the 360 programmes--approved in
the framework of development law 1892/90--represent invested
capital of 61.8 billion dr and corresponding subsidies of 22.8
billion dr, a 56.8 per cent increase in invested capital and 70 per
cent in total subsidies.
        Investments in the processing sector amounted to 54.4
billion dr or up 67.1 per cent --absorbing the greater of
subsidies' funds which totalled 19.9 billion dr, an increase of
81.9 per cent over the same period last year.The Hellenic
Organisation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Industries
(EOMMEX)and the Agricultural bank of Greece (ATE) ,which subsidise
small and medium-sized firms for investments up to 300 million
dr.,increased their share considerably in the total amount of
approvals, ATE to 22 per cent from 6 per cent and EOMMEX to 13.7
per cent from 9.7 per cent.
        ATE approved 13.7 billion dr worth of investments over 2.35
billion for the same period last year.
        EOMMEX approved 8.53 billion dr. worth of investments over
3.84 billion dr worth for the same period last year.
        The region of Thrace showed an impressive step forward
compared to first half 1992, increasing invested capital by 206.7
per cent (from 5.5 billion dr. in the first half of 1992 to 17
billion dr) and the total amount of subsidisation approved by 194.4
per cent (from 2.8 billion dr in the first half of 1992 to 8.3
billion dr). ana

        Athens, 29/7/93(ANA)--A series of decisions aimed at
improving the efficienty of the Greek post office (ELTA) and
upgrading its services to the public, especially with regard to
reduced rates paid by the public sector, were made at a meeting
yesterday chaired by Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis.
        It was decided that a new contract will be drawn up between
ELTA and the Greek state in which the government would be charged
the same rates as ELTA's bigger clients. The state will also be
called upon to cover ELTA's liabilities from the reduced rates
charged for newspapers and periodicals.
        In a bid to improve its competitiveness in courier and
express mail, ELTA will immediately start a programme aiming to
improve the efficiency of its delivery services.
        The organisation will also demand immediate payment of the
23 billion dr owed it by the Hellenic Telecommunications
ORganisation (OTE) and it was decided that it would receive
immediate financial aid of 8 billion dr from the transport and
communications ministry and 4 billion dr from the Prime Minister's
Office. Also present at the meeting were finance undersecretaries
Costas Yatrakos and Costas Doussis, Transport Undersecretary
Panayotis Delimitsos, the directors of ELTA and OTE and
parliamentary deputy Vaios Stathopoulos. ana

        Athens, 29/7/93(ANA)--The articles of association for the
first Romanian bank founded entirely with foreign capital, the Bank
of Bucharest, were signed on July 20 in Bucharest by chief
shareholders the credit Bank, its subsidiaries and the European
Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Credit Bank
announced yesterday.
        According to business circles in Bucharest, this is the
most Significant investment to have taken place in Romania this
year.
        EBRD has a 25 per cent stake in the new bank while Alpha
Finance, which designed and developed the bank's organisational
structure, has a 15 per cent participation.Mr Panagis Vourloumis,
managing director of Alpha Finance, will become chairman of the
Bank of Bucharest's board of directors. ana